A service celebrating and remembering her life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The service will be livestreamed at www.fpcgreensboro.org. The family will receive friends following the service in the Virginia Gilmore Room at the church.
Evelyn was born August 9, 1935 in Traveler’s Rest, SC. She was the daughter of
Albert and Eleanor Copelan. Evelyn grew up in Mooresville, where she attended
Mooresville High School. She was an avid athlete in high school, especially as a tennis player.
Evelyn attended Queens College in Charlotte, where she graduated magna cum laude with a
bachelor’s degree in Bible and Christian Education. She went on to obtain a teacher’s
certificate.
Evelyn met her future husband, John Edwards, the summer after their freshman year in college. They were married on June 1, 1957, just days after their college graduations. The couple lived in Chapel Hill, Asheville, and Knoxville, TN during which time Evelyn worked as a teacher, before settling in Greensboro.
Evelyn spent 22 years as Director of Christian Education for Elementary Children at First
Presbyterian Church. Her accomplishments in this role were many, including starting the Vacation Bible School program, Market Place, and Logos. As a result, she was honored with the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Evelyn was very active at First Presbyterian, serving on a large number of committees. She was
also a roofer for Habitat for Humanity.
Evelyn had a lifetime love of outdoor activity, including tennis, hiking, and biking. She was
especially fond of the mountain community of Montreat. She loved nothing more than
being in the mountains with family and friends.
Evelyn is survived by her husband of 66 years, John, and by her children John Edwards, Jr. and
wife Karen Patrick of Corvallis, OR, Anne Glontz and husband David of Charlotte, Joyce
Rabb and husband Bill of Evans, GA, and John Conger and wife Blair of Virginia Beach,
VA. Also surviving are grandchildren Alex Glontz, Andrew Glontz, Ian Edwards, Lauren
Murphree, Amanda Schick, Genny Rodriquez, Molly Conger, and Oliver Conger. She is also survived by 8 great grandchildren.
The family asks with gratitude that memorials in Evelyn’s name be made to Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte, NC 28274 or to First Presbyterian Church, 617 N. Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27401.
Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
